Sports News
Czech cross-country skier Katerina Neummanova has done it again, winning her second World Cup race in a row, just six months after having a baby. Ilona Hlavackova has been named Czech Swimmer of the Year. There has been a great deal of speculation over whether Czech international football goalkeeper Petr Cech would sign for English glamour club Chelsea. Rene Bolf, meanwhile, is definitely joining Auxerre. And ice hockey goaltender Roman Malek has been let go by Slavia Prague, half a season after helping the club to an historic Extraliga title.
After six months out Neumannova wins two World Cup races in a row
"I went at my own tempo and then I began to realise that I would be involved at the finish. I waited for the climax of the race, but I didn't exert myself too much - I knew I could hold on and even come first."
Swimmer of the Year Hlavackova off to South Africa to train for Olympics
Another female athlete in the news this week is Ilona Hlavackova, who has been named Czech Swimmer of the Year. Hlavackova this year became the first ever Czech to take a medal (a silver) at the World Swimming Championships. Speaking after collecting her award on Tuesday, the swimmer said she was going to South Africa for three months to train ahead of the Athens Olympics.
Cech's future uncertain, Bolf bound for Auxerre
There has been a great deal of speculation this week over whether Czech international football goalkeeper Petr Cech, who is 21, would sign for English glamour club Chelsea. It appears Cech will not be leaving French club Rennes in the near future, though the much admired young keeper is expected to move on in the summer. Petr Cech's international colleague Rene Bolf is to leave Banik Ostrava for the French club Auxerre, though not till the end of the season. That will be good news for Ostrava fans: losing defender Bolf would have dented their hopes of winning the Czech league.
Russians knock Czech duo of Novak and Strycova out of Hopman Cup
The Czech Republic have been knocked out in the qroup stage of tennis's Hopman Cup by Russia. Jiri Novak was beaten 6-7 7-6 6-3 by Marit Safin, while Barbora Strycova lost 3-6 6-7 to Anastasia Myskina; that gave the Russians an unassailable lead. The Czech mixed duo had previously lost to the United States pair of James Blake and Lindsay Davenport.
Slavia Prague give goaltender Malek the boot
Ice hockey goaltender Roman Malek has been let go by Slavia Prague, half a season after helping the club to an historic Extraliga title. Slavia coach Vladimir Ruzicka swapped him for two Pilsen players, and Malek reportedly thought it was a joke when he first heard his time at the club was up. The Czech international goaltender said he regretted not leaving for the NHL in the summer.
Pardubice lose again but remain way ahead in Extraliga
In Tuesday's latest round of Extraliga games leaders Pardubice lost for the second time in a row - this time 2:1 to Ceske Budejovice. Pardubice won't have lost too much sleep though: they are still 15 points clear of second-placed Sparta, who beat Hame Zlin 3:2.
